Lilly73

I was banded almost a year ago. I have not been on this site in a long time and have missed it. Recently...over the last 2 months I have experienced terrible heartburn and acid reflux. It seems to be related to certain foods I eat and certain drinks. I think I have it "somewhat" under control now but I am still going to see my doctor about it this week. Is this normal and has anyone experienced this?

Single bandster, 34, central Maine. Single mom of 2 young girls. Struggled with weight my entire life. Had bouts of eating disorders also. Lap band has helped me learn how to eat correctly. I have not lost tons of weight....but I have lost 35 lbs and have gained a lot of control over my out of control eating. I love to work out at the gym, spend time with my girls, I work as a nurse full time and love gardening also. I have only been divorced a short time. I have not dated at all. Just not ready, I guess. I am really busy with work and the children. If anyone wants to chat please mesage me!

Forgive me but what is PB and NSV???? I am a newbie....lol.

Thank you so much for the welcoming words......much appreciated and I hope to chat with you all soon! :clap2:

This is wonderful....I am a single bandster....newly banded and just recieved my first fill. Well....my relationships have followed the same path as my weight over the years....sometimes things were good and sometimes things were really bad. I found myself at 288lbs recently after having 2 babies in 2 years and being married to a bipolar alchoholic. Not an abusive person...just a really sick man....his sickness was making me sick also. I was trying so hard to keep things together...working full time, taking care of the girls (who were babies) and paying all the bills myself...it was too much to bear. I wanted the all american "family" and wanted to be a mom so bad that I ended up settling for a man with many issues and problems so I could have it. Not a good choice. After many years of trips to the hospital ER and psych units and psychiatrist's office along with weekly counseling with a substance abuse counselor....I realized that this man would never be the husband I dreamed of and never the dad I would hope my babies to have. It was a harsh acceptance and one that left me a devastated single mother trying to "do it all." During the 4 years we lived together I used food as my coping mechanism. When things got tough....I ate and ate and ate some more....the 2 back to back pregnancies didn't help either but I really can't blame my obesity on pregnancy...that is a cop out. I have been separated from my husband now for 7 months and have started the divorce process. He sees the kids once or twice a week for an hour or two but always with me present. We don't fight or cause the kids any more heartache than they have already experienced which I am so thankful for...but things will never be normal for them and that makes me sad. During our marriage he stopped sleeping in the same bed as me and stopped having sex with me. He said my weight bothered him....I had my band done 4 months after he moved out and I feel that it is now time for ME to find a healthy life...both physically and socially. I owe it to myself and my girls. This is wonderful that there is a single bandsters sight....hope to chat with you soon!! Keep on keepin on!

Wow....that is awful....I had no pain at all with my fill....and the doctor didn't use anything.....felt like a shot...that is all. Does it normally hurt? I didn't realize that.....sorry....good luck to you!

I am discovering that there are so many differences in fills and what each of the doctors do....depending on preference. I had no fill until 7 weeks post op and felt ZERO restriction....really was eating pretty normally and lost only 9 lbs in 7 weeks.....I got a 4cc fill for my first fill and WOW....I could barely drink...what a difference! I am 6 days from that first fill and can only tolerate "soft" food but I am doing OK...able to get my nutritional requirements in.....is this normal to only be eating SOFT foods right now?? I really can't do solids...they get stuck and it hurts so bad.

I did clear liquids the first 24 hours then full liquids for the next two days but by day 4 I was on soft foods such as creamy soups and even a bit of yogurt, etc. You just have to take it SLOW.

Hello....I understand....I am 18 days post op and have only lost 10 pounds....absolutely NO RESTRICTION AT ALL. I understand it is about healing right now and getting used to the band but I was hoping for a bit more restriction and my first fill isn't until SEPTEMBER 12TH. I am on my eliptical everyday now and doing weight resistance exercises and putting my "will power" to the test....I think God wants me to use this time to learn how to live the banded life....it isn't an easy fix....only a TOOL. Good Luck and if the depression is really starting to settle in...there is nothing better than exercise....releases all those endorphins!!

No....I am really not that familiar with the program in Bangor...as I had mine done in Augusta. I have heard good things about Dr. Toder though....nothing negative but it is all hearsay...you should meet with her yourself and ask a lot of questions....that is your right as a patient. Good Luck!!

OK.....40lbs lost from surgery to first fill then I hear 50lbs:omg:......I was hoping to hear that I was doing fine....LOL!! I guess I am surprised that I can consume this much. I thought I would be more restricted but from what I am hearing in other posts that it is normal not to feel restriction yet and this isn't a time to lose but to heal. I guess I hear these BIG NUMBERS and think that maybe 10 pounds already isn't good enough. I will say that I have not exercised yet...just haven't been able to....still a bit sore. I am going to start today though! My eliptical is waiting in my livingroom calling my name!! I started a LIST of things that are going to begin today.....maybe I am too hard on myself...I just so badly want to succeed at this.....so badly! I also don't feel I am a very disciplined person when it comes to dieting and food. That how I got here to begin with. Can someone comment on the discipline and change of mindset??? Any suggestions or comments are welcomed. :confused:

I did not have her....I had Dr. Richard Morand in Augusta....who I loved! But...I am a nurse and I have heard good things about her. I have also heard good things about the Bariatric program in Bangor. There are 3 doctors in Augusta at the Bariatric Center who do Lap Band....if you are interested in going there.

You definately want to spend the night....I don't know how people go home after that!! I needed to stay due to my sleep apnea but the hospital I had it done at sends them home....it is strictly a day surgery...can't imagine! I had a lot of post op nausea and gas pain...very glad I stayed.

Question for you....how did you know your band slipped? Do you think it was a freak accident or the way you ate? Just curious....sorry to ask such personal questions...I guess I am just a bit freaked out about what I can, should, can't eat now that I have the band. Any insight??? Was it painful??

Remember the sponge?? Boy do I miss it!!

Hi...I have a Mirena IUD and was banded 11 days ago. I have had the IUD for a little over a year. I love it NOW but didn't at first. I had a lot of cramping for several months and spotting too. It finally stopped at about the 7th month and now I have no periods and no cramping at all. I almost had it removed though...in the beginning....couldn't stand the cramping. Glad I waited it out.

Awesome for you for being so honest....we here ya!!

I had gone 4 days without a BM...also the gas was just terrible...even 4 days post op I was continuing to pass tremendous amounts of gas. I used a suppository and that got out a lot of gas and a small BM but I knew there was more...so I did a fleets enema and that solved all my dilemnas!! I have been drinking prune juice faithfully everyday since and have had no BM issues as of yet...hoping it stays that way.

My last straw was when my husband told me he was no longer sexually attracted to me and began sleeping in another room in the house. By the way....I ditched him 2 months before I was banded!!!

I had an increase in pain on day 7 and it really scared me. I had been off the Lortab for several days and was only using Tylenol when I needed it but all of a sudden I could barely move or bend over! I narrowed it down to doing way too much that day. I used ice on my port site and got myself into bed...I felt much better the next day. Are you doing too much??

I am wondering if it is normal to not have much restriction before the first fill....I am only 10 days post op but can consume a lot more than I thought I would. I have lost 10 pounds already though! I am wondering if I am doing alright.....?????

You better believe I would.....!!!!!!! I am a full time work week single mommy of 2 little girls ages 1 and 3. It is so hard. I don't get any financial help at all. Their dad does see them for a couple hours a few times a week but provides no monetary help, no diapers, preschool payments, nothing. It is HARD....one of the hardest things I have ever had to do next to battling obesity and finishing nursing school. Any man who can handle that kind of load is the kind of man you want around when life gets tough and you need a strong shoulder to cry on. So.....keep up the good work and just know that those women who don't date you are CRAZY.....lol!!

I have been banded for 6 days and have the same problem....someone told me it is because I am drinking too fast....for you it may be either eating or drinking I am only on liquids right now....I did notice that when I slow down it is better.

Hello all....well....it finally happened! Was banded on the 12th at 10am...had to spend the night because of my sleep apnea but was released at 10am the following morning...I must say that the first 12 hours post op was really rough. I was very nauseated and had a lot of pain and gas. It started to make a turn around though and I have felt good since. I am able to take my liquid diet along with some jello, pudding and yogurt...no problems at all. I truly feel great......back to work tomorrow night if all goes well. I weighed in at 288 pre-op. Hoping to get down to at least 190-195. I used the Gas-X thin strips, sipped on prune juice and did a lot of walking for the gas. Used rice socks on my upper abdomen and shoulders for the gas pain....helped a lot. I found that the morphine post op was making me more nauseated and giving me a headache....I did much better with the liquid Lortab. I am still taking the liquid Lortab but not every 4 hours. I can go about 6-8 hours now. I am looking forward to reading all the info and advice on here and sharing my own story also. Thanks for all your help everyone! :clap2: :whoo:

Just to forewarn you....I kept hearing that this procedure was NOTHING compared to a C/S...I am also nurse and have had 2 C/S....they were WRONG....reason being is spinal anesthesia is so different than general anesthesia....I felt great after my c/s and terrible after the band. It was all post operative anesthesia side effects but it still was terrible. It passed fairly quickly...my surgery was at 10am and by 5pm my nausea had improved considerably...but I wish someone had told me this....I went into the band thinking it was going to be a breeze. Hope this helps.